Hanukiah, is a nine branched candelabra lit during eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The name that was common for this holy Jewish object outside Israel was "The menorah of Hanukkah" or just menorah. The name "hanukiah" was given only in the end of the 19th century in Jerusalem by Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the reviver of the Hebrew language. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple after the successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy. According to the Talmud, the victorious Jews found only enough ritually pure olive oil to light the menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously lasted eight days until a new supply could be obtained. In celebration of this miracle The hanukiah has eight branches for eight candles, and another branch for the auxiliary candle, or shamash, which guards against secular use of the other lights and is also used to light them. The common reason for the number of the candles is that they symbolize the eight days of the miracle. Each night an additional light is kindled - one on the first night, two on the second night, and so on - until on the eighth night of Hanukkah all eight lights, plus the shamash, are lit.
Hanukiah, Chănukkiyah (Hebrew: חַנֻכִּיָּה)
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